Since his election in May 2011, Cllr Chatburn, who sits on both Stockton Council and Yarm Town Council, has been a vehement critic of a number of the Government’s policies.

He believes that particularly damaging to the residents he represents has been the so-called developers’ charter, championed by the Conservative half of the Coalition, which he says has opened the door to the “proliferation of unwanted and unneeded housing applications in and around Yarm”.

But Ken Lupton, leader of the Conservative group on Stockton Council, has now called for Cllr Chatburn to hold a by-election and let the people of Yarm decide if they want a UKIP councillor.

“I think it would be morally correct to have a by-election, and I will be suggesting that to him,” he said.

“I’m disappointed he has left the group. He is a very dedicated individual and has worked for the people of Yarm.

"I realise he has been dissatisfied recently, but I always think its better to change things from within.”

Cllr Lupton added: “I don’t see how he can describe himself as UKIP as surely that’s decided by the electorate?”

The call for a by-election was echoed by Bob Cook, the Labour leader of Stockton Council.

He said: “He is Stockton’s first UKIP councillor, but unelected.

"Like everyone who gets elected on a certain ticket, if they actually leave the party they were elected with they should look to seek that support from the electorate and see if the electorate agree with them leaving the party.”